St. Paul daily globe., 1887-05-27
A Post-Morten Shows That William Gil
bert Was Not Murdered, But
Had al ApOplectic Stroke.
Coutrscts Awarded for Four More
School Houses by the Board Of
Education Last Night.
ARequest for Suspension of Part Of
the Pope Railroad Law---The
Local Summary.
TT WAS NOT MURDER.
William Gilbert Died From Hem
orrhage of the Brain.

A post mortem examination, made by
Drs. Witherle and Spencer on the body
of William Gilbert, the man found in a
diving condition on the rear steps OF No.
S95 Wabasha street, early yesterday
morning, shows that Gilbert was not
murdered, as at first supposed, but that
he died from uhemOrrhage OF the brain.
No testimony has been brought out to
show how Gilbert came to be on the
steps of the dive where he was found,or
what was the immediate cause OF the
hemorrhage. There are theories
which are in conflict with the testimony
of the colored women who We're arrested
Yesterday morning on suspicion OF hav-
ing some knowledge of the cause of his
death. The one generally believed by
officials is that Gilbert went to the dive
shortly after II o'clock, and while there
was stricken with the ap0plectic shock,
and the inmates becoming alarmed,
carried the body outside the building,
partially putting on the clothes, and
then called for the police. At the post
mortem it was developed that the hem
orhageS of the brain were sufficient to
cause death, and that Gilbert'S heart
was somewhat affected.
An inquest was held at Leigh'S under
which little of interest iii the case was
brought out. further than the facts
given in the GLOBE yesterday morning
and those developed at the post mOrtem.
c. H. Goodrich. of Chicago, who spent
Wednesday evening with Gilbert, said
he had known him for six years. They
were together at the Ryan hotel from
about So'clock until little past II
o'clock, when Gilbert left to take bath.
He was not drinking, and Mr.. Goodrich
said he was Il man of good character.
To GLOBE reporter he
ADVANCED TIE THEORY
that Gilbert was taken with the apo
plectic fit before he went to the steps,
where he was found dying. Officers
Smith and Gibbons. j. Fl. Cunningham,
who keeps saloon OH Minnesota street
Thomas Sidney, colored man, who ac-
cOmpanied two of the women to the
dive about midnight, James Taylor,
Moliie Fry, Josie Lewis, Mabel Lane,
Ada Gault and Ada Glenn
abouts during the night, not one
of them admitting that they had seen
Gilbert until he was found lying at the
head of the stairs. MOllie Frye. who
had the dead mans watch, said she
picked it up on the floor after the alarm
was given. DR.. Witherle testified, in
addition to the facts above given, that
there was small cut in Gilbert'S
tongue, as if he had bitten it.
Gould Gilbert have gone up the
stairs after he suffered the stroke?"
asked Alex Johnson, one of the core
ner'S jury.
Il don't think it would have been pos
sible," replied DR.. Witherle.
The coroner's jury consisted of John
Baugh, Alex Johnson, II. l.. Wheat, A.
H. StrouSe, W. j. Freaney and 2. o.
Grady. They returned verdict that
Gilbert came to his death from apo
pleXy, superinduced by causes TO the
jury unknown.
The colCred women were released.
Joe Fedirni, who keeps the fruit stand
at the corner of Fifth and Wabasha,
says that the published story that one
of the women was employed at his place
is not SO; none OF them ever worked for
him.
A special to the GLOBE from Chicago
says that J. B. Jones, president of the
Ruttan Manufacturing company, in
whose employ Gilbert was, states that
Gilbert was a member of the Third
Presbyterian church, in that city, and
of the Y. NJ. G. A.. and had always
borne an upright character.